Container



5 T. LINDELLY June-8, 1937.

CONTAINER Filed April 9, 1934 INVENTOR. Beria'l T ZZ/YdeZZ 9 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Murray Corporation tion of Delaware of America, a corpora- Application April 9, 1934, Serial No., 719,714

4 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and particularly to a container for transporting and dispensing a beverage such as beer.

Since repeal of the eighteenth amendment metal has largely been employed in the construction of barrels, containers and the like for beer resulting in wood barrels being superseded by the metal type of barrel. Various methods have been employed in constructing such barrels, the most acceptable method being that of providing a set of dies for producing pairs of like stampings, one pair forming the inner liquid container and the second pair encompassing the container and providing an outer surface for the barrel. The space therebetween provides the desirable insulating qualities. 1

The dies for drawing sheet metal into pot shape of a particular contour are quite expensive and I take advantage of dies already constructed and ag-employed for one size of barrel for producing Y a container of half that size. I accomplish this by utilizing a single stamping from each die to form an insulated container closed at the top by a cover. The cover is preferably provided with upstanding sides to act as a container for the dispensing device and to retain ice for cooling purposes. The top cover and the two inner and outer containers are preferably secured together by a single weld or brazing operation at the junction thereof and a reinforcing ring is preferably provided at the top of the cover. I may also provide adispensing'spigot and a gas control valve. on the two bungs provided in the cover for the: purpose of having gas or air introduced into the 1 :container to force the liquid out of the spigot which contains a shut-off to control the flow thereof. The spigot may be a part of the barrel contained within the top cover element 'where room is also provided for a gas cartridge or a pump for producing a pressure on the beer. A tray may be supported by the sides of the cover toform a closure for the spigot and pump or cartridge. The tray is preformed to provide a stacking feature so that a plurality of the containers may be disposed one'upon the other. The tray is further provided with apertures through which the spigot may project and the valve made available for the pressure applying means. The glasses to be filled are placed on the tray and through the tilting of the spigot the flow of beer is controlled. Any beer dripping from the spigot or glasses will flow from the tray into the bottom portion of the cover element. Ice may be packed between the tray and the cover of the container :to keep the beer cold.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to provide a container made of stampings from dies which were constructed to produce a barrel of twice the capacity of the container; to form a container of two pressed metal stampings which are spaced apart except for the joined ends which support a closure element to form a complete container joined together by a single weld; to provide a top cover for a container which has upstanding sides in the form of a pot, the bottom of which is provided with one or more bung rings; to provide a spigot in one of the bungs through which liquid may be dispensed and which is foldable to lie against the cover; to provide agas valve in the cover to which a gas cartridge or a pump may be secured for introducing a gas under pressure into the container; to provide a tray resting on shoulders on the upstanding-sides, of the-cover for enclosing the spigot, pump or cartridge and having embodied therein stacking features whereby containers may be stacked one upon the other; and, in general, to provide a container for dispensing beer which is self-contained, which is simple in construction, durable and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features, of novelty of my invention will be either specifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for a better understanding of my invention, to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation embodying features of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container illustrated in Fig. 1, a

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2, taken on the line 3-3 thereof,

Fig. 4 is a reduced sectional View of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion ofia container similar to that illustrated in Fig. 3 showing a modified form thereof, and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5, showing a further modified form thereof.

I have illustrated a container 8 made up of an inner pressed sheet metal element 9 of pot-shape and an outer pressed sheet metal element Ill likewise of pot-shape which encompasses the inner container portion 9. The terminal ends of the container portions 9 and II] are mated with each other at H, the inner container portion 9 being flanged outwardly while the container portion I!) engages the wall of the portion 9 at the base of the flange to position the end relative thereto in a position to be readily welded. The element 9 is suspended within the element I and otherwise entirely spaced from each other for insulating purposes. The construction of the container portions 9 and i9 follows that of the copending application of C. W. Avery, Serial No. 672,618, filed May 24, 1933, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

The container portions are made from dies which are constructed originally to produce pairs of like stampings which are mated together at the bilge to produce a barrel of twice the capacity of the present container. In this manner I utilize the dies for constructing a whole barrel to produce a container of a half barrel capacity, a half barrel for producing a container of a quarter barrel capacity or a quarter barrel for producing a container of an eighth barrel capacity, etc.

The cost of the dies for drawing metal into the forms of the container portions 9 and ID are expensive and a container of half the capacity of the barrel can be formed from stampings made from dies already constructed, thereby eliminating the die cost.

A cover 12 of pot-shape is preformed to provide a shoulder !3 at the bottom edge adjacent to an upstanding side it which is offset to provide a shoulder 55. The top of the side 14 has its terminal end 46 rolled about a ring I! to pro vide strength to the top edge of the cover. The shoulder 53 mates with the flange of the container portion 9 in a position to be joined thereto when the container portions 9 and I!) are united, all by a single welding, brazing or like operation. In this manner, a single securing operation produces a complete container except of course for the welding, brazing or like operation employed for securing bung rings thereto.

A central bung ring I8 is secured to the cover l2 by having a portion flanged about an opening and brazed, welded or otherwise secured thereto. Threads l9 are provided on the outer surface of the bung and a thread protecting ring 2| is disposed thereabout to prevent the threads from being damaged. Apertur'es 22 are provided at the base of the ring for drainage purposes. In a similar manner a tap bung ring 23 is secured to the cover in a convenient manner as illustrated, being brazed, welded, or otherwise secured thereto, the bung being of the standard to which a dispensing device may be removably secured. The bung cap Ed is threaded on the bung ring l8 having a sealing washer 20 therein to provide a tight joint. The cap 24 is provided With a central opening 25 in which a valve stem 26 is secured and provided with a valve for preventing the flow of gas from the container. The valve may be of the standard type known in the art as a Schroeder valve. A dispensing device 2! is secured to the bung ring 23 having a tube 28 which extends to the bottom of the sump 29 in the container portion 9. The device 21 may be releasably secured by a Keystone, Peeriless or like connection 3! to the ring 23. A T-shaped valve part 33 is provided exteriorly of the cover l2 having mated therewith a valve part terminating in an elbow 34 which forms a shut-off. A second elbow 35 is threaded to the elbow 34 having a dispensing nozzle 36 at the end thereof. The nozzle 36 may be raised by having the elbow 35 turn relative to the elbow 34 and may be thereafter arcuately moved to rotate the elbow 34 to operate the valve parts thereof and element 33 to control the flow of liquid from the nozzle.

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a gas cartridge 31 which may be secured to the valve 26 for introducing a gas into the container. In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a pump 38 which may be employed for forcing air into the container through the valve stem 26. A tray 39 rests upon the shoulder 15 of the cover l2 and is provided with a pressed-out portion H and a plurality of radially disposed embossed portions 42 employed for stacking purposes as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The tray 4| is provided with a central opening 93 opposite to the valve stem 26 and an elongated aperture 49 in alignment with the elbows 34 and 35. The tray may be secured by a pressedout tongue 36 and a spring catch 40 to the cover [2 forming a compartment in which the dispensing nozzle 36, the pump 38 or cartridge 31 may be disposed during shipment. When in use, the nozzle 36 and pump 38 or cartridge 37 project through the openings 44 and 43, respectively, for dispensing purposes. The space between the tray 39 and the cover 52 embodies insulating properties which may be augmented by a removable insulating element. Dry ice may be shipped in the compartment or ice cubes disposed therein for retaining the contents of the barrel cold.

The portion of the container below the cover I2 is preferably insulated by a material 45 provided between the inner and outer container portions 9 and H]. The drippings from. the dispensing nozzle 36 will fall upon the tray 39 and be retained by the side wall I 4 of the cover l2.

Openings 46 are provided below the reinforced end I 6 of the cover l2 for carrying purposes. A chime 4'! is provided on the bottom of the container portion Ill so that the container may be carried by the end l6 at the two openings 46 or by grasping the side It and the chime 41.

Referring to Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of construction wherein the inner container portion 9 has an extending flange 48 supported on the flange 6! of the outer container portion H], with the container portion 9 entirely spaced from the outer container portion l0. Suitable means such as that found in the copending application of A. W. Dickey, Serial No. 687,086 filed August 28, 1933, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, may be provided for positioning the flanges relative to each other. A cover 49 may be attached by a spot or seam weld to the inner portion of the flange 48. A side extension 50 is formed and rolled to shape having a flange 52 which mates with the edge of the cover 49 and the flanges 48 and 6| all of which aresecured together by a single weld or braze, illustrated in dotted lines in the figure. An annular ridge 69 is provided in the extension to support a tray fll when such tray is to be employed. The bottom of the cover 49 is provided with a pressed-out portion 4| for stacking purposes directly on the cover.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a further extension of my invention wherein a cover 54 may close the container portions 9 and I0 having a flanged portion 55 in engagement with the flange 48. A second cover element 59 is disposed over the cover element 54 providing a space 51 therebetween wherein air or insulating material may be retained to provide a completely insulated container.

The flanges 48 and 55, the end of container l6 and a shoulder 58 of the cover 56, are welded together as at 59 to join all of the elements together by a single operation. A seam weld or a the base of the flanges 48 and 55.

It is to be understood that the container may be employed and used the same as the complete metal barrel, that is to say, by having the usual type of bungs inserted in the bung rings and have the consumer employ his own accessories. Preferably, however, the breweries will furnish with the containers the gas cartridge or pump and the dispensing device all of which is enclosed between the tray and the cover. In a similar manner the container may be pitched if desired as is common practice in the brewing art. Reference to such method is to be found in the co-pending application of Albert J. Scriven, Serial No. 673,751, filed May 31, 1933, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions, additions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A container comprising an inner pot-shaped stamping, an outer pot-shaped stamping spaced from said inner stamping and engaging the top edge thereof, a cover of pot shape having the bottom disposed adjacent to the joinder of the inner and outer stampings, means for securing said three elements in unit relation, and a removable tray disposable on said cover and spaced from the bottom thereof.

2. A container comprising an inner pot-shaped stamping, an outer pot-shaped stamping spaced from said inner stamping and engaging the top edge thereof, a cover of pot shape having the bottom disposed adjacent to the joinder of the inner and outer stampings, means for securing said three elements in unit relation, a tray removably secured to the cover in spaced relation from the bottom thereof, said tray provided with means whereby one container may stack upon another.

3. A container comprising an inner pot-shaped stamping, an outer pot-shaped stamping spaced from said inner stamping and engaging the top edge thereof, a cover of pot shape having the bottom thereof disposed adjacent to the joinder of the inner and outer stampings, means for securing said three elements in unit relation, and a tray disposed adjacent to said cover to form a space therebetween for insulating and cooling purposes.

4. A container having a cover portion with upstanding sides, a dispensing device foldable on said cover, atray removably secured to said cover in spaced relation thereto having an aperture through which the dispensing device may extend and be operated to dispense the fluid of the container.

BERTIL T. LINDELL. 

